Tuning device for stringed musical instruments



Feb. 12 1924. 1,483,434

1 H. o. HAMMER TUNING DEVICE FCR STRINGBD MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed March 17 1922 1 I I l I 29 E 9 29 J5 6 45 j M62720? Hams 0 Hammer,

Patented Feb. 12, 1924.

UNITED STATES HANS 0. HAMMER, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TUNING DEVICE FOR s'ramenn MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

Application filed March 17, 1922. Serial No. 544,465.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Hans O. HAMMER, a citizen of the United States, residin at Chicago, in the county of Cook and tate of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tuning Devices for Stringed Musical Instruments, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

This invention relates to improvements in stringed musical instruments, and particularly to the mechanism employed for adj usting the tension of the strings of such instrument.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a mechanism of the character indicated which shall be simple and inexpensive as regards construction.

A further object is to provide a construction which is adapted to be mounted in the side of the head of the instrument, thus preventing the mutilation of the upper or lower surfaces of the head.

A. still further object is to provide a construction of the tuning peg device in which all the parts are detachably secured together.

The invention consists in the novel disposition. and arrangement of the various operative parts thereof, whereby the attainments of the foregoing objects are rendered practicable in certain combinations and arrangements, all of which, will be specifically referred to hereinafter and set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings illustrating my invention, like character numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in which;

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a head of an instrument with a portion cut away, showing my improvement embodied therein;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional plan view of the shell-like bearing box with, the worm and gear positioned therein;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevational View of the bearing box, with the gear shown in section; and

Figs. 4 and 5 are enlarged plan and side elevational views respectively of the shelllike bearing box.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated my improved tuning device as embodied in the head of an instrument (only part of which is shown). The head 10 is provided with a plurality of rectangularly shaped sockets 11 extending from the narrow sides or edges 12 inwardly toward the medial line of the head. Communicating with the sockets 11 and extending through the upper surface of the head 10 is a plural ity of apertures 12 for the purposes hereinafter set forth". 4

My improved shell-like bearing box, which is preferably made of one piece of sheet steel, comprises two oppositely disposed parallel portlons or sides 13 and 14 which are formed integrally with a tie portion 15. Positioned opposite each other and connected tothe tie portion 15' are two bearing supports 16 and 17. These supports 16 and 17 are positioned at right angles to the tie portion 15 and to sides 13 and 14 respectively in such a manner as to form a box-like chamber 18.

Centrally positioned on the outer edges of the supports 16 and 1.7 are sen'ii-circulair bearing notches 19 and 20 respectively, which are. adapted to support a spindle 21.. One end of the'spindle 21 is provided with a Worm 22 adapted to be positioned in the chamber 18. The spindle is prevented from longitudinal displacement by the outer portions 23 of the worm 22 engaging the inner portions of the supports 16 and 17 adjacent the notches 19 and 20. Positioned on the outer end of and fixed to the spindle 21 is a thumb piece 24 which is manipulated by the operator in tensioning the tuning peg.

The upper side 13 of the bearing box is provided with an aperture 25 which is adapted to receive and form a bearing for a tuning peg 26. The lower end of the tuning peg 26 is threaded at 27 in a manner to e secured in a threaded aperture 28 of a gear 29. The gear 29 is positioned between the sides 13 and 14 in a manner to be operatively engaged by the worm 22.

To fill up the opening on the side 12 of the head 10, a rectangular wood plug 30 is set into the socket 11 in a manner to form a continuous smooth surface on the edge 12. The plug 30 is provided with an aperture 31 to permit the free manipulation of the spindle 21. The strings 32 of the instrument are connected to the tuning pegs 26 by being inserted in the apertures 33 in the upper ends of the tuning pegs 26.

In connection with my improved construction of a tuning device, I have provided a novel means of assembling and mounting the same in the head of the instrument. In this arrangement, the wooden plug 30 is positioned on the spindle 21 after which the thumb piece 24 is secured to the spindle; and the worm 22 is placed in the chamber 18 with the bearing notches l9 and engaging the outer ends 23 of the worm, thus preventing the longitudinal displacement of the worm. The gear 29 is next placed between the sides 13 and lt in operative engagement with the worm 22.

These parts are inserted into the socket 11 in the head 10 until the aperture 25 in the side it and the threaded aperture 28 in the gear 29 all register with the aperture 12 in the upper surface of the head. Then the peg 26 is inserted with the threaded portion 27 secured in the threaded aperture 28 of the gear 39. The wooden plug 30 is then secured in the socket 11 in a manner to form a smooth edge 12 of the head.

From the above description, it will be seen that I have provided a simple and compact tuning device, and one in which the number of parts have been reduced to a minimum.

In the above description, I have described one form which my invention may assume, but it will be understood that the same may be modified without departing from the spirit and scope as expressed in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A tuning device for stringed musical instruments, comprising a head having a rectangular socket formed therein, a bearing box positioned in said socket, a spindle having a worm, and gear seated in said box and a plug carried by said spindle for retaining said box in said socket.

2. A tuning device for stringed musi "al instrument, comprising a head having a socket formed in the side thereof, a. shelllike box positioned in said socket, a spindle having a worm positioned in said box, a gear operatively engaging said. worm and positioned in said box and a plug carried by said spindle and positioned on the side of said box "for retaining said box in said head.

3. A tuning device For stringed musical instrument, comprising a worm, a gear, a head having a rectangular socket formed in the side of said head, a bearing box fixed in said socket, said bearing box comprising upper and lower parallel sides, a tie con necting said sides, a pair of oppositely disposed bearing supports formed integrally with said tie and said support and notches formed therein for sustaining saidworm in operative engagement with said gear.

4. A tuning device tor stringed musical instrument, comprising a head having a rec tanguiar socket termed in the side thereof, a bearing box comprising two oppositely disposed sides, one of said sides provided with an aperture, a gear positioned in said box having an aperture registering with the aperture in said side, said head having an aperture registering with the last two mentioned apertures and a peg extending through all of said apertures and secured to said gear for retaining said box in said head.

In testimony whereof I atiix my signature.

HANS O. HAMMER. 

